rifle / Phibsborough, 1916

Rifle, Italian Vettereli type, dug up from a ditch at Phibsborough, Dublin. Italian Vetterelis were landed at Larne by the Ulster Volunteers in 1914. "1916" cut into the the wood of the butt. Very rusted and degraded from exposure to moisture in ditch. this was likely abandoned by the Volunteers at Phibsborough during Easter Week 1916 as they retreated from the area after their attempts to disable the train line at Broadstone. the Volunteers came under attack by the British Army at this position.;